MIT
MIT Faculty Newsletter  
contents Vol. XXIV No. 3
January / February 2012

This issue of the Faculty Newsletter features commentary on the Institute's newly announced online initiative, MITx. Our Editorial, Teach Talk, From The Faculty Chair, and an article by Provost Reif present different aspects and issues arising from this announcement.

Spotlight
walking in snow
Glass at MIT: Beauty and Utility
The MIT Libraries present a beautiful and historic view of the use and creativity of glass at the Institute.
First Generation Project Launched
First Generation students (those whose parents do not have college degrees) are an important subset of the MIT community.
 
Editorial
MITx
Editorial Subcommittee
The Provost's MITx announcement stimulated a little buzz in the halls, but not nearly enough. We could well be at an educational tipping point, where during the next . . .
Teach Talk
A Contrarian View of MITx: What Are We Doing!?
Woodie Flowers
I love MIT but confess being frustrated. The MITx announcement added to my frustration. As outlined below, I argued against OpenCourseWare (OCW) . . .
From the Faculty Chair
Freshman Advising and MITx
Samuel M. Allen
Most people, especially outside MIT, are surprised to learn that I teach blacksmithing at MIT. I was inspired to do so in 1984, when it struck me that I could learn . . .
MITx: MIT's Vision for Online Learning
L. Rafael Reif
On December 19, 2011, approximately 10 years after announcing OpenCourseWare, MIT announced its next step in opening our educational doors to the world. MITx is . . .
First Generation Project Launched
Miri Skolnik and John Belcher
MIT is proud of its commitment to First Generation students. First Generation students, those whose parents do not have college degrees, comprise 16% of . . .
A Message from the First Generation Project
Student Executive Board
Melanie Adams, Melanie Alba, Luis Juarez, Peter Nguyen
Over the past year, as First Generation students at MIT, we have mobilized to bring greater visibility to our achievements and experiences. With approximately 800 . . .
We Gotta Have HOPE
Alexander Slocum
Reading the Vol. XXIV No. 2 Faculty Newsletter catalyzed me to try to see if I could bring together different viewpoints that flowed from its pages into a more coherent . . .
FPC Subcommittee to Review IAP
Aaron Weinberger
Since its introduction in 1971, Independent Activities Period (IAP) has seen significant growth in both the number of academic subjects offered and the number of . . .
Glass at MIT: Beauty and Utility
Nancy Schrock
In MIT’s Glass Lab, students gracefully shape glowing, molten glass into works of art, while in an MIT research lab researchers explore the use of nano-sized glass . . .
Memorial Service for Bob Silbey
A memorial service for Robert J. Silbey, former Dean of Science, and Class of 1942 Professor of Chemistry, will be held on Saturday, March 17 at 2 pm in the . . .
Teaching this spring? You should know . . . .
the faculty regulates examinations and assignments for all subjects.
M.I.T. Numbers
Under-Represented Minority Faculty and Students: 1987–2012
M.I.T. Numbers
A Women as Percentage of Total Undergraduates, Graduate Students, and Faculty: 1901–2012
   
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